Punxsutawney Phil 'Indicted' for Lying in Forecast

3/22/2013 3:24PM

As the northeast gets pummeled with snow, one Ohio prosecutor is "indicting" Punxsutawney Phil for lying about an early spring. The groundhog's supporters rally to his defense as he faces the death penalty. WSJ's Reed Albergotti reports on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... I ... it officially spring but you would know here in the Northeast where ... the ... old with no incident showered with flowers and there's one Ohio prosecuted is taking his cold weather frustrations out on ... a tiny pill that's right the famous Groundhog told us we get spring early this year and ... this hospital he's taken him to court now ... to explain the legality of the matters that it's a lot reporter Reed Albergotti ... joins us now from a courthouse in downtown Manhattan ... Brayden only drank about core that this was a murder trial you recovering ... no one in in in Italy that it wouldn't even think to ... much more work she is I wanted to write down to the tothe to the facts of the matter now this Paskin is funny criminal indictment against the law explain what fills facing ... ideally actually seeking the death penalty here now I am not an actor I was last ... up apparently ... failing ... to properly or that ... I'm ... spring weather ... here is punishable by death ... and I understand this prosecutor's office takes is very seriously they have probably feature alert against scammers and ... they think that Phil has basically stand the song thinking were to have an early spring ... it would be fitted ... the bill did perfectly and would try to population and design ... caught people to believe that spring would come early to the indictment said so ... if you look at me that that belief that now ... though it didn't get around Kentucky piece of relief that she started taking pictures he could even holders were talkin upending the light ... one very old not want anyone could say perhaps instills a sense of instability perhaps escaped and are ... you know I can see him even coming up with the defense something about climate change reducing debt as possible ... I needed to keep the battery died at the battle ... for sure be part of so ... aam the company ... I think that that challenge that the prosecution gone for a few improving criminal intent ... you know it ... yet I mean would be adhered to ... its prior to ... the basement ... and did I know we won't be evident in ... the trial ... of that you know it'll it'll be interesting even with the LBi looking toward me be ... a good email here and there ... bill paying ... you know ... I think it does get a ... protective screen will cover girl even though the kid to come early down or ... do you need for some financial gain we don't know what the motor fuel ... I think he's more of a text in an email from why you're the one last quick question ... of jurisdiction this is an Ohio prosecutor ... has its work with all of course being ... grounded in and in Pennsylvania ... I will that that the great question I mean I think ... I would share with jurisdiction can be built ... first it bothered predict the weather nationally known not to the company didn't go ... and with all the media attention being paid in age ... really shows up in a TV station voters that he had been Ohio ... on the team that went ... over to Aunt Connie and don't data that showed up in Ohio ... you've got an eye doctors that work there and drill it into the urge to strike me down I this is why we keep you on staff and excellent need legal analysis we continue to fall this case the fact that I fell activist in life thanks for being ... so much ...